More than a third of Brits believe that Facebook doesn't care about its users

As more-and-more news surfaces about Facebook’s misuse of – and disregard for – people’s personal data, 37 per cent of Brits say they don’t think Facebook cares for its users.

According to the7stars, an independent media agency, the Cambridge Analytica scandal – and the fallout from it – has also led to 28 per cent of Brits claiming they are more cautious about what they post on social media.

Furthermore, the survey of 1,000 Brits found that 44 per cent of respondents believe the government should be doing more to monitor major tech companies, and 42 per cent don’t feel business are taking enough responsibility. Meanwhile, 24 per cent of people still feel the responsibility for looking after data on social media lies with the company and not with the user.

However, though there are concerns around the handling of their data, just nine per cent of respondents said the Cambridge Analytica scandal led to them deleting content from their social media sites – but still not going as far as deleting their accounts. And just 14 per cent felt the scandal was a sign that it was the beginning of the end for social media.

“The negativity that has been swirling around social media’s use of our personal data since the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke is clearly impacting on Brits’ decisions to use and rely upon these platforms. On top of that, trust among users is currently low and they are exercising greater caution in what they do and share,” said Frances Revel, insight director at the7stars.

“However, the situation hasn’t translated into a mass exodus of users. Social media is so ingrained in our lives that Brits are clearly reticent to fully extricate themselves. Facebook now faces the challenge of restoring that trust, particularly among older users, and regaining its relevance and popularity among younger audiences.”